CHESTERTOWN, Md. (WJZ) — Frosty the Snowman arrested. A man dressed as the famous holiday figure is facing charges after a strange confrontation with police. It happened during an annual holiday parade in Chestertown.

Weijia Jiang spent the day there and has more on the incident making international headlines.

The Christmas parade in Chestertown is a beloved tradition. This year’s will certainly go down in history for the now-infamous fight that happened during it.

Since 1997, Kevin Walsh has dressed up as Frosty the Snowman for the annual Chestertown Christmas parade. But the latest photos he’ll add to a growing collection are making headlines as far away as New Zealand.

“One officer put his knee against my neck and the other one cuffed me,” Walsh said.

During the event Saturday, the 52-year-old was marching down Main Street. He says after he made a comment that a police dog should not be at the parade, the K-9’s handler arrested him.

“I was appalled. There you are and you’re thrown to the ground, your arms are pulled behind you,” Walsh said.

Walsh says he was mostly upset because throngs of children watched it all.

“I sort of melted. For me to be arrested the way I was, thrown in the police station, not released for three hours,” Walsh said. “It was just excessive.”

But police say Frosty didn’t melt. They say the dressed-up snowman had a meltdown.

“We’re not going to be abused in that way. It’s just not going to happen. It is a serious matter, as much as everyone wants to make light of it,” said Chestertown Police Deputy Chief William Dwyer.

Police say Walsh tried to kick the dog, then started cursing, yelling and assaulting the officers. It’s the latest of several run-ins with authorities. Walsh has been arrested five times this year alone for disorderly conduct or resisting arrest. Still, he insists he did nothing to deserve the icy treatment.

Walsh is planning to file a civil lawsuit against the police department, but for now he’s focusing on his January trial. He says he’ll probably wear a Frosty costume in the courtroom.

If he’s convicted of all charges, he faces more than 30 years in prison.